An image formation apparatus includes an electrostatically chargeable member having an optical density that changes with change of its reproducing power. A charging device forms an electrostatic latent image on the chargeable member, and a developing device develops the electrostatic latent image into a visual image. A transfer mechanism then transfers the visual image onto a recording member. A detector detects the optical density before the chargeable member is charged by the charging device and a control device controls at least one of the charging device, the developing device, and the transfer mechanism in accordance with the output of the detector.